How Do Americans Feel About America?

 No big surprise, but lots of Americans are feeling that things are getting pretty out of control in America.

In short, they said, the United States is an "awful," "chaotic," "divided" "mess."

The most common response, offered by 31%, was "awful," "poor" or "terrible," words we grouped together as similar in meaning. 

Another 20% said "chaotic," "disastrous," "messy."

Then 16% volunteered "divided," "confused," "turmoil."

Combined, these downbeat adjectives comprised two-thirds of those surveyed. Which doesn't mean the others were feeling upbeat. There were the 6% who said "sadness/depressed/angry," the 4% who said "failing democracy/decline," and the 2% who said "scary/horrific/disgusting." 

Optimistic words were down in the single digits.

Five percent offered "great/stable/encouraging" and 3% said "improving/better/hopeful" – perhaps on the theory that things couldn't get worse?

The poll of 1,000 likely midterm election voters, taken Oct. 19-24 by landline and cell phone, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Here;  We asked Americans to describe the state of the US in one word: The answers weren't pretty (msn.com)

Hopefully, this dour mood will end up at the voting booth in a few weeks and voters will throw the folks out that have put them in such a poor mood.

From a spiritual side we could look at this news and say, "what do you expect when the vast majority of the country don't have the 'joy of the Lord' in their lives?